"Gartan Mother's Lullaby" is an old Irish song and poem written by Herbert Hughes and Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil, first published in ''Songs of Uladh lster' in 1904. Hughes collected the traditional melody in Donegal the previous year and Campbell wrote the lyrics. The song is a lullaby by a mother, from the parish of

Gartan Gartan ( ga, Gartán) is a parish in County Donegal, Ireland. It is best known for being the birthplace of Columba, one of the three patron saints of Ireland and one of the most revered saints in the Christian world. Here he founded a monastery ...

in County Donegal. The song refers to a number of figures in Irish mythology, places in Ireland and words in the Irish language.

Pronunciation

*''Aoibheall'', (pronounced "''ee-val''") commonly known as Aoibhinn the Beautiful, is the queen of the Northern Fairies. *''The Green Man'', (or ''Fear Glas'' in

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

) it is said if you see him in the morning, "no ill follows"; but if at night, death or some other terrible misfortune will surely overtake you. He is sometimes called ''Fear Liath'', or the Grey Man. *''Siabhra'', is a generic term for an Irish fairy of any kind. In ancient writings the Tuatha de Danann, or little magicians of the Pagan Irish, were called "siabhra" without distinction. *''Tearmann'', Irish for

Termon Termon () is a village in the north of County Donegal, Ireland. Geography Termon is located eight miles from Letterkenny, Donegal's main town and seven miles from Creeslough. Termon is made up of many townlands including Currin, Doon, Drumlaur ...

, a village near Gartan in

Donegal Donegal may refer to: County Donegal, Ireland * County Donegal, a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the province of Ulster * Donegal (town), a town in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland * Donegal Bay, an inlet in the northwest of Ireland b ...

. *''Leanbhan'', is an old

word for ''little child''. (leanbh is Irish for child +án leanbhán is its diminutive.)

Recordings

*2016 - UCD Choral Scholars covered on the album "Invisible Stars" *2016 - Lisa Cuthbert covered on the album ''Paramour'' *2011 -

Screaming Orphans Screaming Orphans are a Pop and folk band from Bundoran, County Donegal, Ireland. The band consists of the four Diver sisters – Joan, Angela, Gràinne and Marie Thérèse. The group combines their own original melodic old-school pop songs wit ...

covered on the album ''The Jacket's Green'' *2011 -

Deirdre Shannon Deirdre Gilsenan is an Irish singer who has toured with a variety of Celtic music groups, such as Anúna, Celtic Thunder and Celtic Woman. She is better known by the stage name Deirdre Shannon. Background Shannon was born into the Gilsenan ...

covered on the album ''Anamcheol'' *2010 - Peter Roberts covered on the album '' Love and the Ferryman'' *2010 - Fionnuala Sherry covered on the album ''

Songs From Before A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at melody, distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various song form, forms, such as those includ ...

'' *2007 - Tracey Rose Brown covered on the album " Songs In The Mist" *2006 -

Órla Fallon Órlagh Fallon (born 24 August 1974), professionally known as Órla Fallon, is an Irish singer, songwriter and former member of the group Celtic Woman and the chamber choir Anúna. Early life and education Fallon was born in Knockananna, Irela ...

, covered on the album '' The Water Is Wide'' *2002 - Spiral Dance, covered on the album ''Notes of Being'' *2002 - Kerstin Blodig, covered on the album ''Valivann'' *2000 -

Meryl Streep Mary Louise Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throu ...

, recorded for the album ''For Our Children: 10th Anniversary'' *1992 - Kim Robertson, recorded for the album ''Tender Shepherd'' *1991 -

Paddy Reilly Patrick "Paddy" Reilly (born 18 October 1939) is an Irish folk singer and guitarist. Born in Rathcoole, County Dublin, he is one of Ireland's most famous balladeers and is best known for his renditions of "The Fields of Athenry", "Rose of Allen ...

, on his album ''The Gold and Silver Days'' *1977 -

Alba ''Alba'' ( , ) is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. It is also, in English language historiography, used to refer to the polity of Picts and Scottish people, Scots united in the ninth century as the Kingdom of Alba, until it developed i ...

, on their album "

" *1972 -

The Dubliners The Dubliners were an Folk music of Ireland, Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962 as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group, named after its founding member; they subsequently renamed themselves The Dubliners. The line-up saw many changes in personn ...

, on their album ''

Double Dubliners ''Double Dubliners'' is The Dubliners' ninth studio album. It is also known as ''Alive and Well'', the title it was released under on the Polydor labeIt's the Dubliners site for the album A standout track here is a recitation by Ronnie Drew of ...

'' *1969 -

The Corries The Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. The group was a trio from their formation until 1966 when founder Bill Smith left the band but Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne continued ...

, appears on their album ''Strings and Things'' *1963 - The Ian Campbell Folk Group, appears on their album ''This Is The Ian Campbell Folk Group!'' *1959 - Deirdre O'Callaghan, appears on their album ''Folk Songs From Erin'' *1958 -

Mary O'Hara Mary O'Hara (born 12 May 1935) is an Irish soprano and harpist from County Sligo. She gained attention on both sides of the Atlantic in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Her recordings of that period influenced a generation of Irish female singer ...

, appears on their album ''Songs Of Ireland''

References

The Guardian, Poem of the week: The Gartan Mother’s Lullaby by Joseph Campbell, Carol Rumens, Mon 18 Jan 2016 {{authority control Lullabies Irish songs Irish poems Irish folk songs 1904 songs